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Dissent in Pittsburgh
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26-09-2009 2:18pm#1Thousands opposed to G-20 march through PittsburghPITTSBURGH — A vociferous but peaceful group of several thousand people marched for miles through the downtown area on Friday, united by opposition to the Group of 20 summit but expressing a diversity of mostly liberal causes as an army of stone-faced riot police watched their every move.
Dozens of black-clad anarchists were conspicuous among the demonstrators, but there was no sign of the disturbances that had resulted in arrests and property damage a day earlier.
Public safety officials said Friday night that 83 people were arrested at protests and other events and about $50,000 in property damage was done during the two-day summit, which ended Friday. They said a man who smashed store and business windows in the city's Oakland section on Thursday night was responsible for about $20,000 in damage.
What do you guys make of this? Is the heavy handed approach deemed appropriate? To me it sounds like the actions of a police-state. It'll be interesting to find out when the destruction of property happened - if it was before or after the deployment of heavy-handed riot cops. I've also seen some videos on youtube where the cops are warning people who appear to be simple passers-by to disperse immediately or be subject to arrest and other police action, including use of riot control agents like gas and rubber bullets!0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK2BRiGX6JQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bopZT_zhwj4Comments
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I have a question: who invites 19 major world leaders to come see Pittsburgh?
It appears that there was some property damage that went on the night before, which put riot police on standing orders to disperse the crowd.
However the following day during the Summit things seem to have ran much smoother.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/26/2009-09-26_massive_police_presence_in_pittsburgh_takes_fight_out_of_protesters.html
PITTSBURGH - Police in riot gear lined the streets of the Group of 20 host city in an overwhelming show of force Friday as thousands of protesters chanted, waved signs and blew bubbles.
Unlike Thursday, when police tossed tear gas and fired rubber bullets to rout protesters who threw rocks and smashed store windows, Friday's "People's March" through the hilly streets of Pittsburgh produced no serious clashes.
The presence of hundreds of police sparked outrage among the demonstrators, who never got closer than half a mile to the G20 meeting site.
"We don't need the United Police States of America," said Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar advocate who famously protested outside former President George W. Bush's ranch in Texas. "I was telling the cops, 'You're facing the wrong way. Face the banks.'"
The patchwork group of demonstrators voiced their opinions on a myriad of issues, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to workers' rights to the national debate on health care.
They chanted, "We all live in a fascist bully state" to the tune of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine."
On Thursday, when demonstrators hit the streets without a permit, sparks flew. About 70 people were arrested and a slew of businesses were damaged.
Mike Nance, 28, a graduate student from Philadelphia, said he had no problem with so-called anarchists vandalizing businesses.
"I don't think property violence is particularly immoral," he said.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/26/2009-09-26_massive_police_presence_in_pittsburgh_takes_fight_out_of_protesters.html#ixzz0SEI5pIKT
I really dont think it justifies Police State sentiment at this time. Tea Party Demonstrations in DC ran much smoother than even this, with 70,000+ protesters in attendance. The mitigating factor in DC was a police force that was highly trained to understand and manage protest. Also whoever organized the Tea Party Express had to have gotten the message out to demonstrators not to do anything stupid, like loot a corner store. Night time is also not a great time to start your protest: it brings with it elements of uncertainty for everyone involved.0 -
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that first video has guys in military dress and iv seen loads of other photos of national gaurd/army etc.
Certainly won't have been Federal Army. Outside of delcared states of emergency it is unlawful to use the Army in law enforcement roles in the US.
National Guard is possible. A number of police forces use BDUs (Battle dress uniform) for rough work, they're cheap, easily available, and quite rugged.US military on the streets of there own country!
Where else did I used to see the Army giving the police a bit of a hand out on the public road... I have this vague recollection...
You don't even need a riot. Apparently simply a dodgy cow will get Irish soldiers on the streets with rifles.
NTM0 -
G20 security officials took responsibility Friday afternoon for a video that seemed to depict US troops ‘kidnapping’ a protester.
The military was not involved in the incident, but G20 security did acknowledge that “law enforcement officers from a multi-agency tactical response team” had detained a protester they said was believed to be vandalizing a store.
Video posted at YouTube shows onlookers calling out “what the ****” and “what the **** is wrong with you?” as people in camo uniforms haul a protester along by his collar, shove him into the back seat of a car, and rapidly drive off.
Military members supporting the G20 Summit work with local law enforcement authorities but do not have the authority to make arrests. The individuals involved in the 9/24/09 arrest which has appeared online are law enforcement officers from a multi-agency tactical response team assigned to the security operations for the G20. It is not unusual for tactical team members to wear camouflaged fatigues. The type of fatigues the officers wear designates their unit affiliation.
http://rawstory.com/2009/09/video-appears-to-show-us-troops-kidnapping-protester/
strange how they dont have insignia our badges displaying who they are, three different camos, just about see the digital camo guy kneeling down behind the police officer0 -
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irish army assist the gardai, not do there job for them.
Can you say "Blue Flu Day?"
And I do seem to recall that the Army (and the RDF) do get riot training. There must be a reason for that.
I mean, if it's an issue of simply aiding the Gardai in securing foreign dignitaries, the Army used APCs in 2004.
They even brought a few CVR(T)s from the Light Tank Squadron along.
And finally, as one of the articles says, the Guardsmen who were deployed to Pittsburgh did not have powers of arrest, so I would count that as assistance, not doing the police's job.
NTM0 -
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